Public backing for prevention and structural solutions to homelessness

With homelessness rising across the UK and multiple signs that current ways of doing things are not working, our mission to use robust evidence to underpin new approaches to ending homelessness has never been more urgent.

This means applying scientific methods to improve our understanding of what works. Achieving this requires a culture shift towards evidence-based practices so that being guided by high-quality evidence of what works becomes the ‘new normal’.

I have long believed that this requires a movement of people, both from within the homelessness sector and beyond it, to lead evidence-led change. And to sustain progress, so that we end homelessness for good, will need broad public understanding and support.

This festive season reminds us of the importance of home and community, making it a poignant time to reflect on the challenge of homelessness and the systemic changes needed to tackle it. Understanding public perceptions of homelessness is key to shaping the solutions we need. That’s why, at the Centre for Homelessness Impact we have worked with Ipsos, the global public opinion specialist, to conduct in-depth surveys of public perceptions of homelessness and track how these develop over time.

Our latest poll, based on a sample of 2,142 adults across the UK in November and early December, finds that the public continue to think homelessness is a serious problem for the country (83% agree, with 14% saying homelessness is not a serious problem). This is particularly the case in Scotland and Wales, where there have been statistically significant shifts in opinion since our previous survey in 2022.

In Scotland, the proportion saying homelessness is a serious problem is the highest in the UK, at 89%, 7 points higher than in 2022. Public concern in Wales was previously lower than in the rest of the UK but has grown by 5 percentage points in the past two years to 83%, on a par with elsewhere. 

Furthermore, there is a strong sense that as a society, we do not pay enough attention to homelessness – 70% agree with this sentiment and only 9% disagree.

Growing support for evidence-led approaches  

The question is how to respond. It is particularly heartening that our polling has picked up growing support for evidence-based policy making on homelessness. Asked if decisions about homelessness should be made based on evidence of what works or on what people think is the right thing to do, 61% say decisions should be based on evidence and only 12% say based on instinct of what seems right. This is 4 points higher than in our poll in 2022, when the share of people backing evidence-based policy dipped to 57%.

Awareness of the nature and scale of homelessness is mixed.

People are aware that more households than ever before are living in temporary accommodation (organised by councils) as they would otherwise be at risk of experiencing homelessness. Asked if this is true or false, 73% say it is true compared with 20% who think it false

However, twice as many people think rough sleeping is far more prevalent than ‘hidden homelessness’, which is wrong. Asked if it is true or false that there are more people experiencing street homelessness than 'hidden homelessness' such as sleeping on a friend or relative’s sofa, 54% think this is the case while only 24% are aware the opposite is true.

Public support is lower for investing more money to prevent people from entering homelessness, rather than in services for people once they experience homelessness: 56% of people agree with this approach, with 9% who do not.

However, the lower public support for this approach is likely to reflect the fact that much work to prevent homelessness is not visible and there is less awareness of what it involves, compared to some more tangible types of emergency support.

So it’s understandable that 84% think the most effective way to address homelessness is to improve refuges and safe houses for people escaping domestic abuse, and 82% say more help should be given to people who have nowhere to live when they leave hospital, prison or the care system. 

Likewise a similar proportion (82%) think providing emergency shelters and hostels for people experiencing homelessness makes most difference, and 81% say more support and training for people experiencing homelessness to find a job and stay employed

There is, however, higher public support for identifying people who might be at risk of homelessness earlier such as when they are using public services such as health and education, which 79% say would make a difference. 

I take heart from this. It gives me hope that we can make a case for the pressing need for bold, preventative action to address homelessness. With over half of people supporting investment in prevention and three quarters calling for affordable housing and stronger government guarantees, the message is that the public are behind prevention and structural solutions. And these are what we need to break the cycle of homelessness for good.

This season reminds us of the vital role a home plays in our lives, and as we approach the new year, it’s time to double down on our efforts. Together - government, communities, and individuals - we can break the cycle of homelessness for good and ensure everyone has access to a safe, stable home.

* Lígia Teixeira is Chief Executive of the Centre for Homelessness Impact